Optical detection system

ABSTRACT

An optical detection system includes a sample portion accommodating a sample, a wave source emitting waves to the sample portion, an optical portion provided on a path of an output wave output from the sample portion, and comprising a first spatial light modulator that modulates part of the output wave to a first wave and a second spatial light modulator that modulates part of the output wave to a second wave, a lens portion focusing the first wave and the second wave output from the optical portion, and a detection portion detecting a focused wave that is focused by the lens portion, in which the first spatial light modulator and the second spatial light modulator modulate the output wave such that the first wave and the second wave have destructive interference with respect to the sample under an already known condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 16/184,677, Nov. 8, 2018, which claims the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2018-0107292, filed on Sep. 7, 2018, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

One or more embodiments relate to an optical detection system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Unintended generation of microorganisms in a manufacturing process hasfrequently occurred in the field of food production. To check microbialgrowth, a method of counting culture types using a medium has been usedas a cell detection system. For example, as a microorganism countingmethod, a method of counting the number of colonies of microorganismscultured by using an agar medium is used. Instead of a method ofvisually counting the number of colonies generated in the agar medium,recently, a method of counting the number of colonies by processing dataof an image of a medium whose colonies are to be counted, the imagebeing captured by using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, has beensuggested.

However, since the above counting methods cannot directly count thepopulation of microorganisms and only can count the number ofmicroorganisms by culturing a microorganism to a colony state in whichthe microorganisms are visible to the naked eye, at least one day isrequired for counting.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments include an optical detection system which maydetect, in real time, impurities such as microorganism in a sample.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented embodiments.

According to one or more embodiments, an optical detection systemincludes a sample portion accommodating a sample, a wave source emittingwaves to the sample portion, an optical portion provided on a path of anoutput wave output from the sample portion, and including a firstspatial light modulator that modulates part of the output wave to afirst wave and a second spatial light modulator that modulates part ofthe output wave to a second wave, a lens portion focusing the first waveand the second wave output from the optical portion, and a detectionportion detecting a focused wave that is focused by the lens portion, inwhich the first spatial light modulator and the second spatial lightmodulator modulate the output wave such that the first wave and thesecond wave have destructive interference with respect to the sampleunder an already known condition.

The output wave may include a speckle pattern that is generated by beingmultiple-scattered from the sample.

The sample portion may further include a multiple scatteringamplification portion that amplifies a number of multiple scattering ofthe waves emitted to the sample.

The detection portion may detect the existence of impurities in thesample according to detection of the presence of the focused wave.

According to one or more embodiments, an optical detection systemincludes a sample portion accommodating a sample, a wave source emittingwaves to the sample portion, an optical portion provided on a path of anoutput wave output from the sample portion, and including a firstspatial light modulator that modulates part of the output wave to afirst wave, a lens portion focusing the first wave output from theoptical portion and a second wave that is part of the output wave, and adetection portion detecting a focused wave that is focused by the lensportion, in which the first spatial light modulator modulates the outputwave such that the first wave and the second wave have destructiveinterference with respect to the sample under an already knowncondition.

The output wave may include a speckle pattern that is generated by beingmultiple-scattered from the sample.

The sample portion may further include a multiple scatteringamplification portion that amplifies a number of multiple scattering ofthe waves emitted to the sample.

The detection portion may detect the existence of impurities in thesample according to detection of the presence of the focused wave.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical detection system accordingto an embodiment;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of a sample portion of the opticaldetection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a principle of generation of a speckle patternincluding sample information;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams showing a principle of detectionof an object by using an optical detection system according to anembodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an optical detection system accordingto another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail byexplaining embodiments of the disclosure with reference to the attacheddrawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements,and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

The present disclosure will now be described more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the disclosure areshown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different formsand should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments setforth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey theconcept of the disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art.

It will be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc.may be used herein to describe various components, these componentsshould not be limited by these terms. These components are only used todistinguish one component from another.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

It will be understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”used herein specify the presence of stated features or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other featuresor components.

It will be further understood that when a unit, area, or component isreferred to as being “formed on” another unit, area, or component, itcan be directly or indirectly formed on the other unit, area, orcomponent. That is, for example, intervening units, areas, or componentsmay be present.

It will be further understood that the terms “connect” and/or “combine”used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, do notnecessarily intend direct and/or fixed connection or combination of twomembers, and are not intended to preclude the possibility of otherintervening member between the two members.

Sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenienceof explanation. In other words, since sizes and thicknesses ofcomponents in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for convenienceof explanation, the following embodiments are not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical detection system 10according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the optical detection system 10 according to anembodiment may include a wave source 100, a sample portion 200, anoptical portion 300, and a detection portion 400.

The wave source 100 may include all types of source devices capable ofgenerating waves, for example, a laser that emits light of a specificwavelength band. The wave source 100 is connected to a driving devicesuch as a motor or an actuator, and may sequentially emit waves towardthe sample portion 200 at a preset time interval. Although the presentdisclosure is not limited to the type of a wave source, however, in thefollowing description, for convenience of explanation, a case in whichthe wave source 100 is a laser is mainly described.

For example, in order to form a speckle in a sample S accommodated inthe sample portion 200, a laser with excellent coherence may be used asthe wave source 100. In this state, measurement accuracy may increase asa spectral bandwidth of a wave source that determines the coherence of alaser wave source decreases. In other words, the measurement accuracymay increase as a coherence length increases. Accordingly, laser lighthaving a spectral bandwidth of a wave source that is less thanpredefined reference bandwidth may be used as the wave source 100. Asthe spectral bandwidth of a wave source is shorter than the referencebandwidth, the measurement accuracy may increase. For example, thespectral bandwidth of the wave source 100 may be set such that thecondition of Inequality 1 below may be maintained.

Spectral bandwidth<1 nm  [Inequality 1]

According to Inequality 1, when light is emitted to the sample portion200 at each reference time to measure a pattern change of a laserspeckle, the spectral bandwidth of the wave source 100 may be maintainedless than 1 nm.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of the sample portion 200 of theoptical detection system 10 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the sample portion 200 may accommodate thesample S to be measured. The sample S may be accommodated by means of asample arrangement device such as a container 201 or a pipe 202, and maybe accommodate in a static state. In an embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the sample portion 200 may accommodate the sample S that isstatic without fluidity, by using the container 201. In anotherembodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the sample portion 200 mayaccommodate the sample having fluidity, by using the pipe 202. In thisstate, the sample S may be liquid, and the sample portion 200 circulatesthe sample S at least one time along an entire flow path including thepipe 202, thereby forming a static state of the sample S in the pipe202.

The sample portion 200 may further include a multiple scatteringamplification portion 210. The multiple scattering amplification portion210 may amplify the frequency of multiple scattering in the sample S byreflecting at least part of the waves output from the sample S towardthe sample S. The multiple scattering amplification portion 210 mayinclude a multiple scattering material. For example, the multiplescattering material may include titanium oxide (TiO₂), and the multiplescattering amplification portion 210 may reflect at least part of thewaves input to the multiple scattering amplification portion 210. Themultiple scattering amplification portion 210 may be disposed adjacentto the sample S, and the waves emitted by being multiple-scattered fromthe sample S may reciprocate at least one time in a space between thesample S and the multiple scattering amplification portion 210. Themultiple scattering amplification portion 210 may be disposed on a pathof the waves at a position adjacent to an input wave S1 and an outputwave S2.

In another embodiment, the optical detection system 10 may be configuredsuch that the multiple scattering material is included in the sample S.The sample portion 200 may include a multiple scattering amplificationarea 210 in a main body of the pipe 202. The multiple scatteringamplification area 210 may scatter into the sample S again at least partof the waves that is input to an inner space of the pipe 202, passesthrough the sample S, and is output. The waves scattered as above may beoutput to the other side by passing through a fluid, and then scattered.The frequency of multiple scattering may be increased in the fluidthrough the above process. The multiple scattering amplification area210 may be formed in at least a partial area of a path through which thewaves pass or, for example, in an entire area thereof.

The optical portion 300 may transmit the output wave S2 to the detectionportion 400 by controlling a wave front of the output wave S2. Indetail, the optical portion 300 may include one or more spatial lightmodulators (SLMs) and a lens portion 350 that focuses the waves outputfrom the SLMs and transmits the focused waves to the detection portion400.

The SLMs 310 and 320 may control wave fronts of the waves scattered bythe sample S and provide the controlled waves to the lens portion 350.The SLMs 310 and 320 may be referred to as the wave shaping devices. TheSLMs 310 and 320 may modulate the intensity of waves, or simultaneouslymodulate the intensity and phase of waves. The SLMs 310 and 320 mayinclude a mechanism or an apparatus, such as a liquid crystal spatiallight modulator (LCSLM), a digital micromirror device (DMD), adeformable mirror (DM), which is capable of controlling the wave frontin a desired shape in unit of pixels.

In the optical detection system 10 according to an embodiment, the SLMs310 and 320 may include the first SLM 310 and the the second SLM 320. Inthis state, the first SLM 310 and the second SLM 320 may be arranged notto overlap each other on a path on which the output wave S2 output fromthe sample portion 200 passes. The first SLM 310 and the second SLM 320may control, at their respective positions, the wave front of the outputwave S2.

The first SLM 310 and the second SLM 320 may control the output wave S2output from the sample S in a static state so that the controlled wavefront may have preset wave front information.

A method of detecting an object such as foreign materials or impuritiesby controlling the wave front at the optical portion 300 is describedwith reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a principle of generation of a speckle patternincluding sample information. FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagramsshowing a principle of detection of an object M by using the opticaldetection system 10, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, part of waves of the input wave S1 emitted from thewave source 100, which is scattered in complicated paths through themultiple scattering of the sample portion 200, passes through a testtarget surface. The waves that pass through many points on the testtarget surface generate constructive interference or destructiveinterference, and the constructive/destructive interference of the wavesgenerates a grainy pattern, that is, a speckle pattern. In this state,when the sample S is in a static state in which there is no movement inan inner constituent material, and interference light, for example,laser light, is irradiated, a stable speckle pattern may be observed.However, when the inner constituent material includes any movingunstable medium such as foreign materials or impurities, for example,bacteria, or when the static state is broken as foreign materials orimpurities are generated, the speckle pattern is changed. In otherwords, the output wave S2 that passes through the sample portion 200 mayinclude sample information according to the speckle pattern.

Referring to FIG. 5A, when the sample S is in a static state in whichthere is no movement of the inner constituent material, the first SLM310 and the second SLM 320 may control wave front so that the outputwave S2 output from the sample portion 200 has preset intensity andphase. The first SLM 310 may control the output wave S2 with a firstwave L1 having first wave information, and the second SLM 320 maycontrol the output wave S2 with a second wave L2 having second waveinformation. In this state, in an embodiment, the first wave informationand the second wave information may have the same intensity of waves,but have opposite wave phases. This may be summarized by Inequality 2below.

I(L1)=I(L2)

P(L1)=P(L2)+π  [Inequality 2]

In Inequality 2, “I” denotes the intensity of waves, and “P” denotes thephase of waves. Accordingly, when the sample S is in the static stateand the first wave L1 and the second wave L2 are focused by the lensportion 350, since the intensity is the same, but the phase areopposite, destructive interference may occur, and thus ideally thedetection portion 400 may not detect light as in Inequality 3.

I(L1+L2)=0  [Inequality 3]

Referring to FIG. 5B, when the object M such as foreign materials orimpurities is included in the sample S, the speckle pattern of theoutput wave S2 output from the sample portion 200 is changed. in thestate in which the wave front is controlled by the above configuration,when the output wave S2 having the changed speckle pattern is incidenton to the first SLM 310 and the second SLM 320, the output wave S2 isnot controlled to have preset wave information. In other words, in achanged first wave L′ and a changed second wave L′, the intensity is notthe same and the phases are not opposite to each other. Accordingly, thedetection portion 400 may detect light having certain intensity as inInequality 4, unlike Inequality 3.

I(L1′+L2′)=kx  [Inequality 4]

In Inequality 4, “k” denotes an amplification constant in the detectionportion 400.

The lens portion 350 may focus the first wave L1 and the second wave L2respectively output from the first SLM 310 and the second SLM 320, andprovide the focused waves to the detection portion 400. In this state,the lens portion 350 may include a single lens as shown in FIG. 1, andinclude a plurality of lenses 351 and 352, arranged on respective pathsas shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The lens portion 350 may further includeoptical path means such as a mirror 370 or a beam splitter 380 to changeoptical paths of the first wave L1 and the second wave L2.

In another embodiment, when the sample S is in the static state, theintensities of the first wave L1 and the second wave L2 controlled bythe first SLM 310 and the second SLM 320 may be different from eachother. As illustrated in FIG. 5A or FIG. 5B, as the second wave L2output from the second SLM 320 is divided by the beam splitter 380, theintensity provided to the detection portion 400 may be less than that ofthe first wave L1. To be offset at the detection portion 400, the firstSLM 310 may control the first wave L1 such that the intensity of thefirst wave L1 is identical to the intensity of the second wave L2 thatpasses through the beam splitter 380 and is provided to the detectionportion 400. Accordingly, before being controlled the first SLM 310 andthe second SLM 320 and input to the lens portion 350, the intensities ofthe first wave L1 and the second wave L2 may be different from eachother.

The detection portion 400 may detect a focused wave that is output fromthe optical portion 300 and then focused. The detection portion 400 maybe any means to detect waves. For example, the detection portion 400 maybe a photodiode. As described above, the first wave L1 and the secondwave L2 output from the optical portion 300 are not detected by thedetection portion 400 due to the destructive interference, but when theobject M such as foreign materials or impurities is included in thesample S, waves (light) may be directly detected.

In another embodiment, the detection portion 400 may further include anoptical fiber, and may receive the first wave L1 and the second wave L2from the optical portion 300. The optical fiber may be a single modefiber. As the first wave L1 and the second wave L2 pass through a singlemode fiber, single mode filtering may be performed. Instead of thesingle mode fiber, a small pinhole having a size less than or equal to asize of a single mode light focus may be used.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an optical detection system 10′according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the optical detection system 10′ according toanother embodiment may include the wave source 100, the sample portion200, the optical portion 300, and the detection portion 400. Since theconstituent elements of the optical detection system 10′ according tothe present embodiment are the same as those of the optical detectionsystem 10, except the optical portion 300, descriptions thereof areomitted for convenience of explanation.

According to the present embodiment, the optical portion 300 may includethe first SLM 310 only. The first SLM 310 may convert the output wave S2to the first wave L1 by controlling the output wave S2. In this state,the optical portion 300 may provide part of the output wave S2, withoutchange, as the second wave L2, to the lens portion 350. In other words,the optical portion 300 may use part of the output wave S2 as the secondwave L2, and control the other part thereof to have destructiveinterference with the second wave L2, thereby performing the samefunction in the above-described embodiment.

As described above, in the optical detection systems according to theabove-described embodiments, since the waves output from a sample isdivided into two of a first wave and a second wave, the intensity andphase of at least one of the first wave and second wave may becontrolled by using the SLM such that and the first wave and the secondwave have destructive interference in the detection portion 400. Throughthe process, in the optical detection systems according to theabove-described embodiments, existence of impurities such asmicroorganisms in the sample may be detected only by detecting thepresence of waves in the detection portion. Furthermore, in the opticaldetection systems according to the above-described embodiments, sincethe existence of impurities may be directly identified through thepresence of waves, sensitive detection may be possible even when a verysmall amount of impurities exists.

It should be understood that embodiments described herein should beconsidered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodimentshould typically be considered as available for other similar featuresor aspects in other embodiments. While one or more embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the figures, it will be understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detailsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical detection system comprising: means foraccommodating a sample, said sample accommodating means including one ofa group including a container and a pipe, accommodating a sample to besubjected to optical detection; a wave source emitting waves to thesample in the sample accommodating means; a system of one or morespatial light modulators provided on a path of an output wave outputfrom the sample in the sample accommodating means, and comprising afirst spatial light modulator that controls a wave front of a firstoutput wave to produce a first wave shape; a lens portion focusing thefirst wave output from the optical portion and a second wave that ispart of the output wave; and means to detect waves, said meansincluding, detecting a focused wave that is focused by the lens portion,wherein in controlling the respective wave front of the first outputwave, the first spatial light modulator result in the first wave and thesecond wave have having interference with respect to the sample under analready known condition.
 2. The optical detection system of claim 1,wherein the output wave comprises a speckle pattern that is generated bybeing multiple-scattered from the sample.
 3. The optical detectionsystem of claim 1, wherein the sample accommodating means furthercomprises a multiple scattering amplification portion that amplifies anumber of multiple scattering of the waves emitted to the sample.
 4. Theoptical detection system of claim 1, wherein the detection means todetect waves detects the existence of impurities in the sample accordingto detection of the presence of the focused wave.